Green Heron (Butorides virescens)
The Green Heron (Butorides virescens) is a small, elusive heron species known for its striking greenish-black cap and back, often found in the wetlands of Montreal. This shy bird primarily feeds on fish and frogs and migrates to Mexico during the winter months.
| 🇫🇷 | Héron vert |
| 🇩🇪 | Grünreiher |
| 🇲🇽 | Garcita verdosa |
| Taxonomy | |
| Order | Pelecaniformes |
| Family | Ardeidae |
How to Identify
A distinguishing feature of the Green Heron is its greenish-black cap and back. The neck and sides exhibit a rich red-brown hue.
Tap image to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge.
Characteristics
| Length | 41-46cm |
| Weight | 240g |
| Wingspan | 64-68cm |
| Clutch Size | 2-6 eggs |
| Incubation | 19-21 days |
| Fledging | 16-17 days |
| Sexual Maturity | 1 year |
| Source | Wikipedia |
Where and When to Spot
After an extensive search, I finally observed a Green Heron at a pond located at the northern tip of the Island of Montreal.
Observation Records by Park and Season
| Location | Spring | Summer | Autumn | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parc de la Frayère | - | x | - | - |
| Parc des Rapides, Lachine | - | x | x | - |
"x" indicates the species was observed, while "-" indicates no observation. Lack of observation doesn't necessarily imply that the species is absent. Data is derived from our park visit journals.